NATIONAL ECONOMY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1931, Page 6

NATIONAL ECONOMY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTION. WELLINGTON, December 6. ‘Concerted action by all forty-live chambers affiliated to the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand is being taken in a short determined Campaign for greater national economy, and a deputation is to waiton the Government shortly' to urge the appointment of a non-political commission,” said Mr C. M. Bowden, president of the association, on Saturday. "The is prepared to, use a :ilyih'g n 'squadvon of members to visit, outlying chambers to ensure that the move has the fullest co-operation, and chambers are being urged immediately to appoint committees to consider the matter and report to the executive.” Mr Bowden said conditions had reached such a stage that decided steps would have to oe taken to secure greater national economy. The commission proposed should have instructions to prepare urgently for adoption by the Government an adequate plan for adjustment of national and local requirments to the ability oi the country to provide means. The efforts of the iGjjv-ernmertt to effect economies had produced very' little result. The r-duc--'on in national expenditure under the iSupplmentary Budget had be ui only' jGSOOjPOOj or less than 1 per cent.

THE TAXATION BURDEN. National and ' local taxation had ‘.risen from la total 1 of £55 14s ICd per head in 4904 to £l7 12s, 2d per head in 1930. The national debt had increased hv £88,000,000 from 1919 to 1929, and local body' debt by' £40,000.000 in the same period. More than £26.000,000 of direct and indirect taxation would be extracted from the community next year, although the national productive vicnine had dropped by about £31,000.■OOO since 1929-30. “If the costs that the business community' have saved are only to be taken away' again by increased taxation to sustain an irreducible administrative system that straddles this country like a colossus, then trade and industry must -breathe their. last," said Mr Bowden. “These accumulated administrative costs are now clinging to om backs with the tenacity that Hie Old 'Man of the Sea clung to the back ol iSindbad. The wcdi-s of taxable income are running dr,v and the weight of present taxation cannot he eased until the administrative .costs of 'Government are- reduced.”